An early-morning apartment robbery in St. Petersburg on June 30 ended with a man fighting for his life and two 19-year-olds now facing attempted murder and home-invasion robbery charges in Pinellas County, according to police.
St. Petersburg police say the confrontation unfolded around 1:24 a.m. when Tyandre Howard let a co-defendant into an apartment while Christopher Mackey, who was armed, planned to rob the victim. Investigators allege Howard shot the man in the leg, shattering his femur, then shot him in the chest before the suspects took the victim’s cellphone. The man was rushed to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. Howard was arrested on July 7 and Mackey on today, according to Tampa Bay 28.
What the charges mean
Under Florida law, home-invasion robbery is defined as a robbery that occurs when an offender enters a dwelling and commits a robbery. If a firearm is used, the offense can be charged as a first-degree felony, which carries potential penalties of up to life in prison, according to state statute. The Florida Senate outlines the law on home-invasion robbery. The attempted-murder charge carries its own severe penalties and will depend on what prosecutors can prove at trial. Both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
What happens next
The case now moves through the Pinellas County court system, where more details such as formal filings, bond amounts and court dates are expected to show up on upcoming dockets. Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact the St. Petersburg Police Department. Tampa Bay 28 reported that the department released the initial details of the case to reporters.
